The Human Services (HSERV) program prepares students for employment in a broad range of social service agencies. Typical job titles include substance use disorder treatment professionals, residential treatment workers, case managers, out-reach and community workers. The program has a core of courses that all students must complete for the Associate in Applied Science Degree, AAS with either a Generalist or Substance Use Disorder Counseling emphasis. By their second quarter, students determine which HSERV emphasis they will pursue. Students must enroll in HSERV 198 Pre-Practicum Seminar, which prepares students for practicum (work-based experience) in an agency. After a student’s first quarter, the HSERV full-time faculty will serve as the students’ advisors.

The Human Services program includes classroom training in interpersonal communications, counseling, ethics, case management, substance abuse treatment and crisis intervention. An agency-based practicum experience is also required. Many courses are offered sequentially and students are expected to take courses in sequence.

Students who are interested in transferring to a four-year college should see a counselor or their Human Services advisor for assistance in program planning. Please note that this is a Professional/Technical program that does not offer a standard transfer degree. For information on SVC articulation agreements with university programs, see the Associate in Applied Science degree information below. Contact for the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) faculty is to be announced. Contact the Generalist department chair, Claudia Avendano-Ibarra, at 360.416.7749. Returning students who have already earned college degrees and who are interested in taking coursework necessary to become a SUD professional, who to contact is to be announced.